Community Urged To Support Cookstown Food Bank Appeal

02 December 2015

Local people are being urged to support a food bank appeal in Cookstown.

Councillor Linda Dillon, Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, made the call ahead of a food bank collection event to be held in the Burnavon next month (11 December) which will boost food bank stocks before Christmas and ensure the charities, SVP and Antioch Store House can meet the need in Cookstown.

“Having enough food to eat is a basic right and yet there are people living in our community who struggle every day to feed themselves or their families,” said Councillor Dillon. “They rely on our food banks and our food banks rely on donations from local people. Every tin of soup, packet of pasta or box of tea bags makes a very real difference to the daily lives of some of those who are among the most vulnerable in our community and I would encourage everyone who can to add one extra thing to their shopping baskets as a donation.”

Denis Loughry, President of SVP Cookstown, said:

“SVP and Antioch food banks provide those people and families in our community that need food and the basic essentials. Many of the people using our food banks are those that I describe as the working poor. SVP offer food, but we also address the causes of poverty, by offering advice and support in the area of debt advice and addiction. We are very grateful for any donation that will help us to provide support for those in need all year round.”

The Food Bank Appeal takes place on Friday 11 December from 10am to 1pm in the Burnavon, Cookstown. Anyone who would like more information or to make a donation at another time should contact SVP, 35 Loy Street, Cookstown, Tel: 028 8676 2900 or Antioch Store House, 55 Molesworth Street, Cookstown, Tel: 028 8676 9066.